A police spokesman said at the time that officers were responding to a report of a woman - Askew - who allegedly was threatening passengers on a SEPTA bus with a butcher knife.

Ohm found Askew in the park, at Howard Street and Susquehanna Avenue. A police spokesman said at the time that she lunged at the officer with the knife before he shot her several times.

Attorneys for Askew's oldest son, Marcus, 21, who filed a wrongful-death suit against Ohm in Common Pleas Court, contended that Reora Askew had turned her back to Ohm, trying to run or walk away from him when he fired.

"It was unreasonable" for Ohm "to believe the use of deadly force was warranted, justified or reasonable at the time he fired his gun," the lawsuit said.

Askew, who also had two minor-age sons, was shot twice in the back, once in the arm, and twice in the chest.